The Vice-Chancellor of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai (IBBUL), Professor Mohammed Hadi Sulaiman, has pledged to upgrade sporting facilities across the institution as the 18th Vice-Chancellor’s Inter-Faculty Games commenced at the university’s main campus.
The Vice-Chancellor, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, Professor Mohammed Aliyu Bello, made the commitment during the opening ceremony of the competition, which began with a football match.
Professor Bello said the university would continue to give sports attention alongside teaching, learning and research, stressing that improved indoor and outdoor sporting facilities would contribute to a more vibrant campus environment.
He said the planned development would also make the university campus more attractive for students by providing opportunities for academic, recreational and sporting activities.
According to him, the institution plans to introduce additional sporting facilities in the next academic session, including facilities for volleyball, hockey and basketball, among other sports.
He added that the games were expected to promote unity, teamwork, discipline and healthy competition while providing an avenue for identifying students with sporting potential.
Representing the Chairman of the Niger State Sports Commission, Hon. Danjuma Masu, Mr. Issia Felix commended IBBUL for sustaining its inter-faculty games and pledged the Commission’s support for the university’s preparations for forthcoming intercollegiate competitions.
Felix said the Commission would provide technical assistance and other support within its capacity, including support relating to sporting facilities.
He recalled that the Commission supported the previous edition of the university’s competition and expressed its readiness to continue supporting sports development at the institution.
Earlier, the Director of Sports, Professor Aliyu Muhammad, said the 18th edition would feature about six sporting disciplines, including football, volleyball, taekwondo and basketball.
He said the competition was approved by the university management despite financial constraints and commended the institution for making the games possible.
Professor Muhammad explained that one of the major objectives of the competition was to identify and develop sporting talents capable of representing IBBUL at major university competitions, including the Nigeria University Games (NUGA), West Africa University Games and Africa University Games.
He said coaches would monitor the games closely to identify outstanding athletes for further development and possible selection to represent the university at national and international competitions.
In the opening football fixture, the Faculty of Social Sciences defeated the Faculty of Education, the defending champions, 2–0, to begin its campaign on a winning note.
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